Top Tourist Attractions in Scotland - Places to Visit (2024)

Admission: Free

Just 25 minutes from Glasgow, this stunning spot on the map offers a wide range of indoor, outdoor and water-based activities, as well as great shopping opportunities, food & drink and exciting family-friendly events.

Loch Lomond Shores is situated in Balloch in the stunning Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, so you’re in for a treat with the lush scenery and landscapes. Get out on the water with boat tours and watersports, or keep your feet dry and try out Treezone or the SEA LIFE Loch Lomond Aquarium. The kids will love the dinosaur themed Jurassic Grill, or if you’re looking to tuck into something local and fresh, pop by the farmers market every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.

Admission: Free

Founded in 1670 and considered to be one of the finest gardens in the world, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh offers 72 acres of peace and tranquillity and is only a stone's throw from the bustling city centre.

Similar places to explore: Dawyck Botanic Garden, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, St Andrews Botanic Garden,

Admission: Free

Set on Edinburgh's Chambers Street, the National Museum of Scotland is a treasure trove of ancient artefacts and precious objects. Not only one of the best attractions in Scotland, it's also one of the most popular in the UK outside of London and offers a great, year-round programme of temporary exhibitions and events.

Similar places to explore: The National Portait Gallery, The McManus Art Gallery & Museum, Perth Museum.

Admission: Paid

Edinburgh Castle is a true icon of Scotland and has dominated the skyline of the capital for centuries. Unusually, it's set atop an extinct volcano. It takes the title of Scotland's most-visited paid-for attraction.

Similar places to explore: Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Falkland Palace.

Admission: Paid

Sit back and relax on one of Edinburgh’s 5-star bus tours. Hop on and hop off as you like and discover the magnificent sights in Scotland’s capital, from the historic Old and New Towns to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Palace of Holyroodhouse and much more.

Departing from Waterloo Place, just below Calton Hill, choose from the City Sightseeing Edinburgh tour, available in multi-languages, The Edinburgh Tour, with live guides to show you the best highlights, or The Regal Tour, a multi-language tour that will take you around the grand parts of Edinburgh.

Admission: Free

The Scottish National Gallery houses Scotland's national collection of fine art from the early Renaissance to the end of the 19th century. The walls of this top attraction are adorned with masterpieces, from Raphael, Velázquez and Vermeer to Monet, Cézanne and Van Gogh, as well as works of Scottish artists.

Similar places to explore: National Galleries of Scotland: Modern One and Two, The Burrell Collection, Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Admission: Paid

Discover your inner Bell, Watt or Fleming at Glasgow Science Centre. This family-friendly attraction is an ideal spot for keeping the wee ones occupied, with plenty of fascinating hands-on exhibitions for the grown-ups to enjoy too. With workshops, interactive activities, shows, a planetarium and even an IMAX cinema, you can learn about all the science projects, experiments and discoveries that have led to the world we know today.

Head to the Science Show Theatre for live science shows that go whizz, bang and pop! Relax in the Planetarium, a state-of-the-art full dome projection room where you can connect with the cosmos and learn from live presenter-led shows from expert astronomers and scientists.

Admission: Free

You'll want to keep coming back to this museum time and time again. Set next to a classic Victorian park by the River Kelvin in Glasgow's west end, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses a staggering 8,000 objects in over 22 beautiful galleries.

Similar places to explore: Hunterian Museum, V&A Dundee, The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum.

Admission: Free

The National War Museum can be found in Edinburgh Castle and is filled with exhibits and artefacts that tell of the impact of war on Scotland's history, identity and reputation abroad.

Similar places to explore: The Gordon Highlanders Museum, Coldstream Museum, Fort George.

Admission: Paid

With over 1,000 animals from every corner of the globe, a visit to Edinburgh Zoo is a fantastic family day out. At this top attraction in Edinburgh you can meet the penguins at the famous Penguin Parade and get closer than ever before to chimpanzees on the Budongo Trail.

Similar places to explore: Highland Wildlife Park, Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park.

Admission: Paid

An epic tourist attraction amidst Scotland's stunning landscapes built to honour the fallen Jacobite clansmen, the Glenfinnan Monument overlooks Loch Shiel and is backed by the world-renowned Glenfinnan Viaduct. Learn more about this turbulent time in Scotland's past and the kilted Highlander who stands on top of the monument.

Similar places to explore: Wallace Monument, Tay Bridge, Leaderfoot Viaduct.

Admission: Free

The spectacular Riverside Museum sits on the River Clyde and is home to the Glasgow Museum of Transport. It is full of fascinating objects and vehicles which tell the story of Scotland's past and present. It's one of the top places to visit in Scotland and a must-visit when in Glasgow.

Similar places to explore: RRS Discovery, Aberdeen Maritime Museum, National Museum of Flight

Admission: Paid

Not only one of the finest and best-preserved Renaissance buildings in the whole of the UK, Stirling Castle was also the favoured residence for many of Scotland's kings and queens. It sits dramatically atop a volcanic rock overlooking the River Forth and was the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots.

Similar places to explore: Linlithgow Palace, Holyrood Palace, Caerlaverock Castle.

Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) is Scotland's most visited art gallery and the centre for Glasgow's extensive modern and contemporary art collection. Found in the heart of Glasgow in Royal Exchange Square, with the famous Duke of Wellington Statue guarding out front (usually with a traffic cone atop his head), GoMA is free to enter.

The gallery provides a thought-provoking programme with displays of local and international artworks alongside temporary exhibitions and events with artists. Don't miss the permanent display that charts the building's history. 

Admission: Paid

Urquhart Castle has had its fair share of dramatic moments. Thankfully, you won’t come face-to-face with any gruesome or bloody battles during your visit. Step back in time and uncover the history behind the famous castle ruins left by its residents, historic replicas and much more. Make sure to climb up the Grant Tower where you’ll enjoy glorious views of one of Scotland’s most famous lochs, Loch Ness.

Similar places to explore: Dumbarton Castle, Lochleven Castle, Kilchurn Castle.

Admission: Paid

This majestic cliff-top castle is tucked away in the Ayrshire countryside in an outstanding coastal location. Boasting a regal exterior, intricate interior, pristine gardens and 260 hectares of grounds to explore, you are all set for an enjoyable family day out.

Similar places to explore: Dunrobin Castle, Drumlanrig Castle, Caerlaverock Castle.

Admission: Free

An iconic cathedral that has prominently stood in the capital’s city centre since the 1140s, St Giles’ Cathedral has seen a wealth of historic, and turbulent, moments in Scotland’s past and has a real story to tell.

Join in a free guided walking tour every day at 10:30am or 2:30pm to hear the tales from the building’s early foundations and John Knox’s Reformation, to seeing the famous Thistle Chapel, and learning all about the rebels and royals that have set foot here. It is recommended to book ahead for these tours as they fill up fast.

Admission: Paid

A trip to Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is a day out that the whole family can enjoy. Labelled as Britain’s “most fun attraction”, you’ll find over 100 interactive exhibits and optical illusions across five floors, from the Vortex Tunnel and Mirror Maze to Ames Room and Bewilderworld.

Make your way up to the Rooftop Terrace where you can admire 360° panoramic views of the city and beyond. Have a go on the free high-power telescopes to see a close up of all your favourite places. Eye Spy Edinburgh is also a must-see. Experience Edinburgh in 3D from the 1850s all the way up to present day, with live city View Cams you can control to zoom in and out of locations across the capital.

Admission: Paid

Experience TripAdvisor’s Best UK Attraction of 2023, the Royal Yacht Britannia. Delve into a bit of Scottish history and explore this unique floating royal residence. With five decks and a fascinating audio tour available in over 30 languages, you can learn all about how this luxury yacht has been a staple for big names, including the late HRH Queen Elizabeth, Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela.

Located in the north of Edinburgh, this is an utterly unique experience you won’t want to miss out on. If you want to go that extra step, you can stay in one of 22 luxurious cabins onboard the nearby Fingal, Britannia’s sister ship, for an experience you won’t forget.

Admission: Paid

Whisky connoisseurs are in for a treat at the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. Located just a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Castle, you can learn how world-renowned Scotch whisky is made from expert guides, who’ll tell you all the little-known secrets and answer all your questions.

Choose from a selection of tours and experiences where you can taste a range of drams and find your favourite. Stop in at the Amber Restaurant & Whisky Bar and tuck in to Scotland’s delicious dishes and larder, and make sure you pop in to the Whisky Shop too – there are over 450 whiskies to choose from.